PLACEnews June 2010 Issue 7

Spreading the Place Making message

VicUrban – the Victorian Government’s land development agency – recently launched the State’s first multi-sector conversation about the value of Place Making as an approach to modern urban development. Malcolm Snow, PLA Chairman and South Bank CEO spoke at the most recent forum.

The Melbourne Place Making Series – hosted by VicUrban in partnership with the Department of Planning and Community Development, City of Melbourne, Federation Square and Village Well – will culminate in a three day conference in late October.

This Series is unique in that it aims to draw together representatives from sectors that would not normally be associated with Place Making and urban development.

The Series aims to stimulate multidisciplinary debate about how to achieve the Place Making objective of creating cities that are desirable for people today and into the future; places that stand the test of time.

It will provide opportunities to participate in online forums, lead-in discussions and the finale conference to explore the role of Place Making in creating valued urban developments.

While Melbourne is the primary case study and city of reference, the discussions will be equally applicable to other cities considering how best to manage growth while retaining a unique sense of character.

In particular, the agenda will address densification and how to achieve infill and renewal developments in the established areas of our cities while protecting and enhancing the character and resilience of those locations.

The conversations facilitated through this Series will culminate in suggestions for how governments and different sectors can work together to protect and strengthen the great places that define the cities we love to call home.